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Lobelia
Lobelia is an annual or biennial hair-covered herb that grows to one or two
feet in height with angled, branched stems, yellowish or light green leaves,
pale violet spiky flowers, and oval fruit with small brown seeds. Lobelia was
first used by Native Americans, who smoked the leaves to relieve asthma and
other lung ailments. Samuel Thomson, an American herbalist, administered lobelia
as a remedy for respiratory disorders as well as for the relief of convulsions,
to aid childbirth, and to induce vomiting.
Also known as pukeweed, Indian tobacco, asthma weed, eye-bright, and vomit
wort, lobelia is known to be anti-asthmatic, anti-spasmodic, emetic, nervine,
diaphoretic, and diuretic. Lobelia contains lobeline and other substances thought
to relax muscles and has a general depressant action on the nervous system.
Lobelia is primarily used to treat asthma and bronchitis as lobeline is a powerful
respiratory stimulant, and isolobelanine, another component of lobelia, is a
respiratory relaxant. Lobelia can be used in combination with other herbs to
treat many other conditions.
Lobeline found in lobelia is acts similarly to nicotine, decreasing the desire
for tobacco. Lobelia is used in anti-smoking preparations as lobeline salts
make nicotine taste terrible when smoked. Lobelia is considered to be the strongest
relaxant of all the herbs and is a powerful anti-spasmodic, causing immediate
relaxation and expansion of contracted parts of the respiratory system. Lobelia
works as a stimulant and appetite suppressant. When taken in very small doses,
lobelia will stop vomiting, but when taken in large doses over a short period
of time with induce vomiting. Lobelia also acts as a diuretic, increasing urine
flow, and perspiration, helping to reduce fever.
When applied externally, lobelia works as a muscle relaxant to treat sprains
and back problems, where muscle tension is a key factor.
Lobelia is an extremely powerful and concentrated plant. Chewing ½ of a lobelia
leaf is enough to provoke salivation or throat spasms. To make lobelia infusion,
pour 1 cup of boiling water onto ½ teaspoon of dried lobelia leaves, let it
infuse for 10-15 minutes and drink 3 times a day. Lobelia tincture dosage is
½mL, 3 times a day. Lobelia may have toxic effects and overdoses can result
in paralysis, coma, or death, so it should not be taken without consulting a
doctor. However, lobelia is safe to use externally.
Lobelia is native to North America and is found among dry grasslands in clearings,
along the edges of forests, and along roadsides. The entire plant should be collected
at the end of flowering time between August and September.
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